- Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show will resume airing on Tuesday, says Disney
- The show was suspended after comments Kimmel made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” Disney says in its statement
- “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” the statement adds
- Earlier on Monday, hundreds of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Robert DeNiro signed a letter backing Kimmel
The pressure on Disney appears to have worked.
The US president and Jimmy Kimmel have never been fans of each other, but the suspension of the late-night show caused huge outrage.
It sparked a massive debate about government interference and free speech – particularly given that Donald Trump has made it a big point of championing it.
Even Charlie Kirk himself had advocated free speech.
There were organised protests against Disney outside of the company’s offices in New York and California over the past week, as well as outside the Hollywood theatre where Kimmel’s show is recorded.
Earlier today more than 400 musicians and actors including Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Jennifer Aniston and signed an open letter in support of Kimmel.
Kimmel appeared to mislead the public – regulator
Last week, the head of the US broadcast regulator said Jimmy Kimmel was “appearing to directly mislead the American public” with his comments about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), said Kimmel’s comments were “not a joke”, or “making fun”.
Asked whether the FCC was trying to censor Trump’s critics, Carr said channels with a “broadcast TV licence” had a bigger responsibility than, for example, podcasts.
Carr was also asked about his previous comments that the government shouldn’t “censor” speech it didn’t like.
He said broadcasters with a license are free “to go on the internet and do whatever they want” but added that “if they want to keep access to those valuable airwaves, I’ve been clear, we’re reinvigorating the FCC’s enforcement of public interest”.
The comments which led to Kimmel’s suspension were made during his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, last Monday.
During his monologue, he spoke about the reaction to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.
It was not the first time Kimmel had addressed the shooting. On the day Kirk was killed, Kimmel posted on social media to condemn the attack and send “love” to the 31-year-old activist’s family.
400 celebrities back Kimmel, call suspension ‘dark moment’
Kimmel to return to air
Jimmy Kimmel will return to air on Tuesday after his show was suspended following comments he made about the death of Charlie Kirk, Disney has said in a statement released in the last few moments.
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the statement says.
“It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
We’ll bring you the latest developments and reaction shortly – stay with us.
